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After Lee, Phillies' rotation unsettled

After Lee, Phillies' rotation unsettled

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies announced Sunday that left-hander Cliff Lee would start Game 1 of the World Series.

They're keeping their Game 2 starter quiet.

But Phillies manager Charlie Manuel sure sounds like he would be unafraid to pitch right-hander Pedro Martinez in Game 2 against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

"When we signed Pedro, I wondered what kind of shape he was in and what condition his arm was in," Manuel said before Monday's workout at Citizens Bank Park. "I think he passed both of those tests. Like I said, I was watching those [postseason] games the other day on MLB [Network]. His velocity was sitting around 87 to 91, 92 mph. At times [this year], he's throwing better than that. His command is still good. He has a tremendous feel for pitching and he loves to pitch. He likes the stage."

Martinez went 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in five starts at home this season. He went 3-1 with a 5.66 ERA in four starts on the road, not including the seven shutout innings he threw in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. He also is 0-2 with a 5.93 ERA in his past five postseason appearances against the Yankees.

But Martinez has experience.

He knows the Yankees.

"We weigh all that," Manuel said. "We try to weigh everything possible. I guess that's the good part about my job. I've got quite a few people around and we discuss everything about the game. We discuss everything that you're supposed to cover. There's not a whole lot that we're going to miss as far as what we want to do. But when I look at Pedro, Pedro has been in the big environment. He's pitched about everywhere you can pitch. I don't think nothing is going to really bother him or get him upset. I think we can pitch him in either ballpark, really. I don't think it matters at all."

2009 World Series

If it's not Martinez in Game 2, it almost certainly will be left-hander Cole Hamels. The southpaw would have been the ideal choice to pitch Game 2, but he is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three postseason starts. He is 7-5 with a 3.76 ERA in 17 starts at home this season, and 3-6 with a 4.99 ERA in 15 starts on the road. Maybe the Phillies weigh Martinez's experience in New York over Hamels' current struggles.

Right-hander Joe Blanton or left-hander J.A. Happ could pitch Game 4, although both will start the series in the bullpen. Happ has allowed six hits and five walks in 3 2/3 innings this postseason, which includes one start and four relief appearances.

Manuel said he is not concerned about the way Happ has pitched this postseason.

Manuel also would not say if the team has finalized its World Series roster. Right-hander Brett Myers remains a possibility to make the roster over rookie left-hander Antonio Bastardo, who has faced just two batters this postseason.

"He's throwing the ball better," Manuel said of Myers. "We'll have a meeting today and a meeting in the morning and we'll make sure we try to get our roster right."

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.